The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-11-05

brush. It looks like the cleared out
sugar camps of Garrett county, but
tnere Is no sugar or maple timber
mere. The timber on the upland is
CHIEFLY the different varieties of oak
and smooth barked hickory. In the
valleys grows the gums, the syca-
more and some walnut. In some
sections the timber is mostly pine
the hard or hickory pine. not the
white pine of the Alleghanies. The
SOIL is a loose loan, varying in color
rom gray to brown. The subsoil Is
. porous red clay, which holds great
amount of moisture. The produc.
lions here are similar to those of
Maryland, but there is greater va
riety here. Wheat grows abodt the
same as in Garrett county, oats not
so we'll, but corn a great deal better.
VI fruits the apple and peach grow
here in great perfection. The plum,
pear and all the small fruits do we'll.
All of the vegetables, including the
sweet potato, do very well. have
before me, at this writing, tomato
vine,twelve feet in length. This vine
grew on the poorest land without
any fertilizer. and has borne at least
a bushel of tomatoes.
Live stock of all kinds seems to do
sTclN Cattle and horses will do nicely
with three months feeding in the
winter. Hogs live the year around
on the mast. Land is very cheap In
this country, but it is advancing rap
idly. There is some government land
to. be had, but the best is generally
all taken. Very good unimproved
land can be bought at from SO to S.
per acre. Land that is rather too
rough for cultivation can be had as
low as dollar an acre. Much of this
quality of land is not near as stony
as some that is cultivated in Mary
land. 1 should say that nearly all OF
this country is covered with good
growth of grass, which affords pas
ture eight or nine months in the year.
The climate is generally healthy, al.
though we have some "chills." But
these are confined mainly to the low
lands and near the larger bodies OIL
water. We have no lung nor bron.
chial diseases, and much less catarrh
than the colder countries. Diptheris
is unknown here. We have about
two months of quite warm weather
in the summer-it is much warmer
than in Garrett county. 1t comes or
usually in July and August-aftel
the harvest and corn cultivating is
all done-most people manage to take
it easy during that time. The nights
are nearly always cool enough fol
rest and sleep. The greatest objec
ton to this country that I have We
discovered Is the "native" people
1t is true that considerable class o
them have raised cotton. corn anG
stock. and have done as we'll as coulC
reasonably be expected In country
without railroads. But the average
South Missourian built his cabir
wherever he could find a spring o
water. hunted a little. fished little
worked a very little, "chawed ter
backer' of bis own growing, and
voted the Jackson ticket. A small
patch would yield him supply O.
corn for hominy. his hogs lived the
year around in the woods, the sweet
potato and some of the fruits grew
almost: spontaneously-why should
he scare whether school kept or not. ,
1t should be said of these people thai
they are very kind and hospitable
Their "latch-string always hangs
out"-literally as well as POLITICALLY
Just what is to become of them un
der the new order of affairs is hare
to tell, On the spot where I write
they hunted "bars" and "possums'
six years ago. Now it is the site of {
town of 1000 people. 1t contains ar
excellent school of three departments
several churches, saw mill, employ
ing some twenty men, and stoae'
carrying SIS. 900 stocks of goods. Tit
man from the North and the Eas
has come. The "cracker" must eithe
"ioin the procession" or "get left
Any one wishing further information
with reference to this country ma,
get 1t by sending me their address
with stamp.
'''''' D. M. BURST.
THAYER, Mo-. Oct. 20, 1887.